Indigenous People’s Struggles for Dignity and Peacebuilding in Northeast India

Abstract

Northeast India (NEI) is inhabited by a large number of tribes . It remained isolated during the British colonial era beginning in 1826 until India achieved independence in 1947. In the exercise of parliamentary democracy , the Indian Constitution provided special provisions and status for the tribes. Struggle for self-determination, including armed struggles, has been asserted by ethno-nationalist movements such as the Nagas, Mizos, Meiteis, Garos and Assamese. This paper will give a brief history of these movements along with the narratives and uniqueness of the indigenous people of NEI. It will focus on the Indian constitution and International concerns regarding the situation of Indigenous people of NEI. The historic peacebuilding processes and outcomes will be outlined, whilst also highlighting the women’s movements within the peace process. This chapter will conclude with proposals on building sustainable peace in the region.

Leban Serto, Ph.D., Anthropologist, Peace Educator, Trainer, member of Indigenous community, Manipur, India; Berghof Foundation, Germany; Email: leban.serto@gmail.com. He has a broad teaching experiences and as a leader of ethnic communities in Northeast India (NEI). He has conducted peacebuilding workshops with ethnic Burmese students and others in Yangoon, Cambodia, Thailand and Costa Rica. He is currently a Consultant, and is involved in Peacebuilding for Indo Global Social Service Society (IGSSS) in the Project—Peace Action in Conflict Vulnerable Areas of Bodoland Territorial Council and Karbi Anglong in Assam, India. He wrote academic papers in the field of Peace Education.

Mhonyamo Lotha, holds a Master of Theology (M.Th.) degree specialising in Church History and is currently a Ph.D. Research Scholar in Peace Studies under Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU), Shillong, Meghalaya India, with the Research titled, ‘Traditional Peacemaking Methods of the Lotha Naga Tribe as tools for Peace Counts Initiatives in North East India’. He is actively involved as a Peace Trainer, utilising the Peace Counts Approach since 2013–2015. He belongs to the Lotha Naga tribe of India and is involved in teaching theological students and facilitating peace workshops with youth and ethnic community leaders in Nagaland with the Lotha Naga tribe of India; Email: mhonyamokyong@yahoo.com.